Hot Pies – A Kiwi Food Icon

When asked what Kiwi expats or long term overseas travellers miss most about New Zealand, they often reply – the food! Good honest Kiwi kai; traditional tucker is what our thoughts turn to when we are away for any long period. A full plate of meat, potato and vege or Fish and Chips, Ice Cream, L&P, Crunchy Bars, and - the hot pie. Hot Pies are New Zealand’s traditional dish, enjoyed by all  - from truck drivers to trampers, boy scouts to business people. From small towns to the big smoke. At the school fair, the A&P show or the rugby ground. You’ll see hot pies everywhere in New Zealand. But not overseas. You just can’t get a decent pie overseas! (except Oz and that doesn’t count!).

There is something very home and country about a hot pie and sure, we all have our favourites but let’s focus on the famous Potato Top pie. This queen of pies has repeatedly won New Zealand’s “Best Pie” contest and one of the judges at a recent event said as he ate the prizewinning Potato Top, he was nostalgically carried back to the kitchen of his childhood, enjoying his grandmother’s shepherd’s pie. The Potato Top is really our Mum’s shepherd’s pie in a convenient hand held size. And just like Mum’s, its topped with soft creamy potato, furrowed like a newly ploughed field, gently toasted golden brown, resting on a filling of seasoned gravy and steak mince, all nestled in a soft pastry base. When crowned with a dollop of tomato sauce you have a truly tasty New Zealand feast. An energy giving carbohydrate and protein combo.

For the health conscious, it’s probably even healthier than its full pastry covered steak or mince pie cousins. If you want to make it even healthier follow your Mum’s advice and enjoy it with some mixed vege or salad and there you have your plate of “meat, potato and vege”.

Just as Apple Pie is to Americans and Pork Pies are to the British, may we propose the Potato Top become New Zealand’s iconic pie.

If you are still not convinced then please think of that delicious white potato topping. Doesn't it resemble the long white cloud that our land is named after and greets us when we return on our flight back home from our OE!

(Big Bake Bakery sell Potato Top pies, as well as a range of pies, to suit every taste)